COUNTDOWN TO ASIA’S RICHEST AND BIGGEST TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP

ATP AND WTA MEGA STARS WILL BE IN ACTION

BEIJING: The China Open is Asia’s premier tennis championship and with over $US13.5million in prize money on offer, it is also Asia’s richest tournament along with being the only event in the region where the men and women play side-by-side.

This year the China Open will host five of the six players who won majors in 2026 – Elena Rybakina (Australian Open and US Open), Alexander Zverev (French Open and US Open), Mirra Andreeva (French Open), Jannik Sinner (Wimbledon), Linda Noskova (Wimbledon).

“We are ready to welcome some of the greatest players in tennis and for the action to start,” Tournament Director Lars Graff said. “Every year the China Open provides thrilling tennis, and the knowledgeable Chinese tennis fans respond with an incredible atmosphere at the China National Tennis Centre. We are expecting that once again.

“From its inception in 2004 the China Open has seen legends of the game win the championship and through its incredible history 17 of the men and women, who have won the China Open, have won majors for a total of 112 grand slam singles titles.

“Jannik Sinner and Amanda Anisimova are defending champions with Jannik looking for a fourth consecutive final and a third title in four years. The tournament is also incredibly excited to see Novak Djokovic back after more than a decade.

“The recent US Open was a massive success for two national players – Zheng Qinwen and Sun Xinran and both have been awarded wild cards.”

The China Open will be Sinner’s first tournament back since winning Wimbledon for the second consecutive year while Anisimova will be looking to build on what has been a couple of very solid seasons for her.

Djokovic’s return has caused a rush on ticket sales. The winner of a record equalling 24 career majors has won six China Opens and remains undefeated at the tournament. He has a 29-0 win-loss record; he has won the last 27 sets he’s played in Beijing and in the 61 sets he’s played he has won 58 of them. Novak first played the China Open in 2009, and the last time was in 2015.

While the world No.1 ranking in women’s tennis will not change following the China Open, there is still the potential for the rivalry to continue between Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka who have met in the final of two majors this year. Jess Pegula, Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Noskova, Andreeva, Anisimova will no doubt be having a say in the matter.

After a season of injury frustration, Chinese tennis was delighted to see former Australian Open finalist and world No.4 Zheng Qinwen, strike back by reaching the US Open quarters defeating Switek en route. Zheng is knocking on the door to a top 50 return, and her adoring local fans will do all they can to lift her. The local fans will also get a first chance to see the nation’s latest major winner – Sun Xinran who won the US Open junior girl’s title in spectacular fashion.

In 2025 the China Open had a record 360,000 fans come through the gates and this year tournament organisers are targeting a new attendance record of 400,000.

The China Open will be played 30 September to 11 October at the China National Tennis Centre in the Olympic precinct and carries a total prize purse of $US13,505,110.